Thesaurus results for BUGABOOS

bugaboos

noun

plural of bugaboo

as in dreads

something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason doing one's tax returns is a real bugaboo for a lot of people

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bugaboos Best Supporting Actress One of Hickey’s bugaboos is the way the supporting races have often been gift-wrapped early, with co-leads like Emilia Pérez’s Zoe Saldaña and A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin sweeping to victory. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 Now, for one of their chief bugaboos — a primary culprit for the mediocre record through 32 games. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2025 James went down a lengthy list of bugaboos that hurt the Chargers, including but not limited to 14 penalties totaling 107 yards, the Giants’ 7-for-15 efficiency on third downs, a lackluster start that featured deficits of 10-0 and 13-3 in the first half and a failure to force a New York turnover. — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025 Getting the focus right is one of the bugaboos of using a telephoto lens for astrophotography, because the focus on such lenses is touchy and easily gets knocked off kilter. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Apr. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugaboos

Noun

Royals, who has typically sported some of the team’s most stylish hair, cut his dreads last week.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
He's described by officials as a Black male in his late teens with a medium-large build and thick dreads.

— Nick Lentz, CBS News, 15 June 2026

Definition of dreads

Noun

This has been one of its main bugbears for years, with several engine types experimented with.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
The bugbears of this season — wasting promising chances (though Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce deserves credit for many of those) and some vulnerability to counter-attacks — remained.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of bugbears

Noun

And strength to resist reducing complex human challenges to slogans, enemies, or simple answers.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Candidates should disclose who funds their campaigns, correct mistakes promptly, participate in substantive public forums and address disagreements without treating neighbors as enemies.

— Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of enemies

Noun

The wines and spirits division maintained its momentum with a 6 percent increase in organic sales, while revenues in perfumes and cosmetics were flat in the quarter.

— Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
These competitive spirits must defeat someone else, proving their mastery of the English language in the arena.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of spirits

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bugaboo

bugaboos

bugbear

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“Bugaboos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugaboos. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bugaboos

noun

Example Sentences

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